Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Borussia Dortmund have underperformed in the Bundesliga once again as they now begin the restart by welcoming resurgent defending champions Bayer Leverkusen to Westfalenstadion.
Kick-off date/time: Friday 10th January, 2025: UK – 7:30pm / US ET – 2:30pm / US PT – 11:30am
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / US – Some matches will be televised on ESPN channels so it is worth checking their schedules
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / US – ESPN+
Borussia Dortmund Preview: Nuri Sahin needs a run
Much like last season, which saw the end of the Edin Terzic reign despite reaching the final of the UEFA Champions League, Borussia Dortmund have endured a difficult Bundesliga campaign as they begin the restart sitting sixth in the table.
They have dropped points in more games than they have won in their opening 15 matches of the campaign but did head into the winter break on the back of an impressive 3-1 defeat of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s in-form Wolfsburg a few weeks ago.
Bayer Leverkusen Preview: Xabi’s Leverkusen are coping
After winning the domestic double without losing a single game last season, the pressure and expectations changes at the BayArena and Bayer Leverkusen started the season slowly but they improved as winter came and now find themselves back in the Bundesliga title race.
Leverkusen’s 5-1 demolition of Freiburg before Christmas with four goals scored by Patrik Schick and another scored by Florian Wirtz was their fifth successive victory in the league and they are now unbeaten in their last nine matches across all competitions.
Borussia Dortmund Team News: Gross suspension
Former Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Pascal Gross was sent off in that aforementioned victory over Wolfsburg so he is missing through suspension for this weekend, whilst experienced centre-back Niklas Sule remains unavailable due to injury.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Couto, Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Can, Nmecha; Beier, Brandt, Bynoe-Gittens; Guirassy
Unavailable: Sule (Injured), Gross (Suspended)
Questionable: Ryerson (Injured)
Bayer Leverkusen Team News: Probably too soon for a couple
Over the November international break, Victor Boniface picked up an injury with the Nigerian national team and he has eased himself back to fitness but, alongside Jonas Hofmann, is still unlikely to feature this weekend with Amine Adli also still unavailable.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Piero Hincapie; Frimpong, Palacios, Xhaka, Alex Grimaldo; Tella, Wirtz; Schick
Unavailable: Adli (Injured)
Questionable: Hofmann (Injured), Boniface (Injured)
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen Prediction
Borussia Dortmund played a very open game against Wolfsburg a few weeks ago but it was probably a starting lineup and style that was unsustainable – both in terms of the shape, where there was basically no midfield, and personnel, with Donyell Malen seemingly bound for Aston Villa. Bayer Leverkusen have looked more controlled in recent months and then unlocked their attacking prowess against Freiburg and favouring the champions would seem the sensible bet for this one.
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen Tip: Double chance – Bayer Leverkusen to win or draw
